How to stay cool

Here are some tips to stay cool. I found most of these on the internet, and added a few of my own. I expect nothing on this list will surprise you, but sometimes it helps to be reminded.

1. Slow down early - take a walk break if needed.
2. Wear lighter garments and not cotton- several materials will wick the perspiration away from your skin: coolmax, polypro, etc.
3. Pour water over yourself- pour water on your head, or even on your light coolmax (or similar material) singlet.
4. Run early or run late - stay away from the sun whenever possible.
5. Hats cover up the body's best vent. . . your head. If you are going to wear a hat it should be light in fabric, light in color, and well vented.
6. Drink cold water- it leaves the stomach quicker and it produces a slight physiological cooling effect- and even greater psychological cooling effect.
7. Don't eat a big meal- Eating too much (especially protein and fat) will put extra stress on your system when you exercise.
8. Find shady routes - Rocky Mount is full of shaded streets and trails. Take advantage of them.
9. Try to find a head wind - I know most people think a head wind is a bad thing, but in the summer it will cool your body. A tail wind just keeps you running in a pocket of you own hot air.
10. Run inside - Hit the roads whenever possible, but there are some days when 5 miles on a treadmill is better then 3 miles dragging through the heat.
11. Most importantly. . . Listen to your body and know when to stop!